SOUTH KOREA: Public sector strike attracted repression

Only a few thousand workers participated in the "indefinite" general strike called by the illegal Korean Government Employees Union that began on November 15. The union, which has 140,000 members, said that 45,000 had committed to join the strike to defend public sector workers' right to strike. Police had attacked pre-strike ballots and threatened retribution to strikers. Some 16,000 police were deployed to break the strike, and at least 150 strikers were arrested. Orders have been issued to fire at least 2488 strikers, with the active participants likely to have their retirement entitlements forfeited. The strike was called off on November 17, with the KGEU vowing to join the general strike organised by the Korean Confederation of Trade Union scheduled for November 26.

From Green Left Weekly, November 24, 2004.

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From GLW issue 607